Free beer

SYDNEY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - An Australian team sponsor has pledged to buy a beer for every adult in the country should the home side beat England in the upcoming Ashes series.

Under the "Shout the nation" commitment, if Australia win back the Ashes from England over the next two months, free coupons for Victoria Bitter (VB) will be printed in five newspapers at the conclusion of the final test on Jan. 8.

Buying a bottle of VB for some 13 million adult Australians would cost nearly $20 million at retail prices, although the brewer has chosen the first series in Australia for many years where England are thought to have a decent chance of victory.

"We're going to buy the biggest round in Australian history," VB's Craig Maclean said at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Tuesday.
"VB is urging all Aussies to get behind the team as they fight to reclaim Aussie pride and what's rightfully ours -- the Ashes."